HOUSING bosses have reassured people in Burnley waiting for a home that properties are not being snatched from them by people from outside the area.

Burnley and Padiham Community Housing chiefs say they have received several complaints about people from outside the town moving into empty properties.

But they say the houses that are being let are those with no waiting list where there is little or no local demand.

Since its introduction in May 2001, BPCH has let 70 houses to people under the London Boroughs Initiative.

Burnley and Padiham Community Housing, which runs 5,200 of the former borough council's homes, is currently working with 25 local authorities across the UK to encourage people to move into the area to prevent 400 empty properties being demolished.

Last year the news that more job-seekers would be coming to town caused concerns because of the already high unemployment levels in the area.

The closure Burnley's Michelin plant in the spring lost 458 jobs and the area has also lost more than 250 jobs at Rolls-Royce, 63 at TRW Automotive Electronics, formerly Lucas Varity, 120 at Cornwell Parker, 33 at Delphi Diesel Systems and 60 at Pendle Aeroform.

Burnley MP Peter Pike said it was a difficult balancing act to attract people to fill empty homes without losing jobs for local residents.

He said: "We have to be realistic about this. If we do not want to demolish large numbers of houses, we have to get people to come and live in Burnley.

"But the fact is that anyone coming to Burnley will be competing with long-term residents for jobs.

"For that reason we have to keep the jobs we already have and fight harder to attract more businesses into the town.

"I can understand why some people would be worried."

Director of Housing and Regeneration at BPCH, Paul Buckley, said: "People are coming up here because nobody else wants these houses, which are very nice properties with central heating and double glazing. It may be that there is a stigma attached to the area which is putting people off."

The organisation also stressed that if the empty properties were filled there would be more money spent in the local economy, the environment would be improved and there would be less vandalism and crime.

London currently has around 48,000 people living in temporary accommodation for up to 18 months or two years.